Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

This morning I drove across town to meet with Derek Turner, the pastor of the Branch Church.  I had never met Derek but he started reading and commenting on my blog and I began to read his.  When I realized he was just across town I said we need to get together.  As it turns out their church offices and school are right next to the Starbucks that I used to meet my coach in the University area of Charlotte.  I remember seeing him at Starbucks a few months back.
He is a gracious pastor and showed me the school that they operate.  We talked over a coffee and I felt like we had know each other for years.  His story is a testimony of God’s power, grace and forgiveness.  Derek married Kenneth Copeland’s niece Nikki and was working for KCM Ministries in Vancouver, British Columbia.  They were in Ft. Worth, TX for some business when a drunk driver hit the van they were in.  In an instant Derek’s life was radically changed.  His wife was killed and she was pregnant with their daughter.

Derek shared with me how God gave him the strength to not only forgive but move on.  God has given him a wonderful wife, Sarah and two daughters since that tragic event. He is also pastoring a dynamic, kingdom minded, giving church.  Derek is a great guy and I recommend getting to know him via his blog.  Pretty cool to see two believers enjoying one another based on what we have in common in Christ versus any theological difference we may share.  I look forward to getting to know Derek better in the future.

Derek, thanks for the coffee and the fellowship!

Well, not really but I am jealous where he really is--here.

Craig Groeschel is the founding pastor of LifeChurch.tv in Edmond, OK. Under his leadership, LifeChurch.tv has become one of the country’s first multi-campus churches, with over fifty weekend worship experiences currently at eleven different locations throughout the United States.

Craig is one of the few mega-church pastors that actually responds to his blog. When you read his blog, he actually reads it and even comments back. What a concept! He also takes certain weekends where he prays for those who read. I had the privilege of meeting him for a few moments at Catalyst back in October. Craig is real and it comes through in his blog, his Biblically inspired messages and his books. I read Chazown last year and it really inspired me to find out who Craig was. I began listening to his messages and reading and participating in his blog. Craig is one of the most passionate and dynamic speakers I have ever heard. I’ve always been a huge fan of Andy Stanley but Craig is now up there with him in my book. Craig’s message on Practical Atheism was one of the most powerful messages I’ve ever heard.

Now to the book Going All the Way. This is a great book about preparing for a marriage that goes all the way–in other words a marriage that lasts! This book had me literally laughing out loud as I read it. He gets you laughing and then sticks you with an important point. Then he gets you laughing again. But through it all I was challenged Biblically to have a marriage that goes all the way.

Craig is open about his life before Christ and how it was filled with promiscuity. Then God rocked his frat world when he was forced to lead a Bible Study because they were on probation. Even though he was not a believer, God used His word to penetrate Craig’s heart and Craig accepted Christ. Then Craig decided because of his past he would “date” Jesus for a year. When it was finally time to start dating in a Biblical way many girls thought he was too out there. One young lady told Craig he needed to date a girl named Amy Fox. He said “fox” was a sign from God. Anyway after a few months Craig finally called Amy and left a message on her machine that was actually played at their wedding.

” Hey you Christian Babe, take me to church or lose me forever!”

Yes it is that kind of book. Craig deals with preparing for marriage, engagement and what to do after you get married. By the way he and Amy have 6 children because Craig says his wife can’t keep her hands off him! He talks about remaining pure before marriage or if you were like him and messed up that God can begin again today. This will be a book I will use for pre-marital counseling in the future. It was a great read and I highly recommend it to those who are single and feel you will get married someday, those who are married and want a better marriage, those who need improvement in your marriage and pastors to use in counseling.

Going All the Way receives 4.71246 hockey sticks out of 5. (That’s for Phil Hoover)

BTW: I’ve had a little extra time to read this week.

A few of my closest friends came to the same conclusion I did a few months back. Here are their stories:

Art Rogers

Marty Duren

Alan Cross

It’s just not worth it.

I’ve had a few people ask what is up with the hockey stick?

When I first started my blog Joe Kennedy made a nice picture for me when it was just K-dawgs thoughts. When I changed the name to Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee I used some clip art.

But I wanted to make it more personal but I didn’t have a big piece of lumber or a log at my house. I’m not a hockey fan at all. I don’t know many hockey players. But Jacob had a hockey stick that Stuart Delony gave him when we lived in Atlanta. I just propped it up on the hot water heater in our garage and took a self portrait. The verses I use as a basis are Matthew 7:2-4:

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

I try to remember those verses because I have a tendency to be judgmental. I hope that answers the question about the hockey stick.

BTW I will be headed to Augusta today to watch the Masters! I usually have my Treo on me but you can’t take phones into the tournament. One of our deacons is taking me and our music minister to see the Par 3 tourney. I hear this is the best time next to the final round to go because the players are loose and having fun. I can’t wait. Last year Paul gave me tickets to the Wachovia Championship.

However some people I know and love enjoy the LPGA.